Guatemala’s President Jimmy Morales announced to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee annual convention on Sunday evening that he has ordered the relocation of his nation’s embassy to Jerusalem two days after the U.S. Embassy opens in the Israeli capital to mark the 70th Independence Day of the Jewish State.

“In May of this year we will celebrate Israel’s 70th anniversary, and under my instructions two days after the U.S. will move its embassy, Guatemale will return and permanently move its embassy to Jerusalem,” Morales told a gathering of more than 18,000 people. “This decision strongly evidences Guatemala’s continued support of Israel, and we are sure that many other countries will follow in our steps.”

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Morales said America’s leader had been the trail-blazer for his nation as well.

“I would like to thank President Trump for leading the way,” Morales said. “His courageous decision has encouraged us to do what is right.”

Morales, an Evangelical Christian, was the first international leader to follow Trump’s December 6 declaration with one of his own on December 24, 2017 in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. He also ordered his country to vote against the United Nations rejection of President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Hana Levi Julian is a Middle East news analyst with a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. A past columnist with The Jewish Press and senior editor at Arutz 7, Ms. Julian has written for Babble.com, Chabad.org and other media outlets, in addition to her years working in broadcast journalism.